With the Steelers having other options over him, here are the five teams that could logistically try and trade for Layne.
To say that the Steelers’ former third-round pick Justin Layne has been a disappointment is an understatement. While it was widely recognized that Layne was going to be a developmental player, he hasn’t shown anything indicating that he will be more than a backup player and average special team’s option. Add in his recent run-in with the law, and it appears as though Layne is no lock to make the roster once the Steelers trim their roster down.
Why should the Steelers trade Layne then?
Simply put, he may still have some developmental upside to certain teams either in need of another cornerback or that were interested in Layne before the draft. He is only entering his third season as a pro, and teams may feel like they can still get the most out of Layne. No, his value isn’t immense, but if the Steelers are set to cut him anyway, getting whatever they can out of Layne would be the better alternative.
This happened just a few years ago when the Steelers acquired Justin Gilbert from the Browns, as the former first-round pick was about to wash out with Cleveland before the team sent a late-round pick to add him to the roster. On the flip side, if the Steelers keep Layne around and he continues to not play or get burnt, he will be even harder to trade. Getting something for him right now, no matter how little, would at least make his tenure with the team a little better. With that said, here are the five teams that could trade for Layne.